It’s flu season and you’re starting to feel achy, tired and your throat is a little sore. The mental juggling starts – do you go to work and risk spreading illness to other workers? Do you call the doctor…if you have one, and hope you can get that doctor’s note so you can take time off to recover? Maybe you think about going to a walk-in clinic or hospital emergency to get that note – but there’s sick people there and wait times are hours long.
Workers in British Columbia no longer face this dilemma with new rule changes at the Employment Standards Branch. Effective immediately, employers can no longer require doctor’s notes for employees with short-term illnesses like colds or flu.
“When you’re sick with the flu, or your child comes down with a cold, the last thing you should have to do is go to your doctor or a medical clinic to get a piece of paper saying you’re sick,” said Jennifer Whiteside, minister of Labour. “Unnecessary medical appointments take time away from patients who need to see their doctors and nurses, don’t help people get better any faster and risk further spread of illness.”
According to the Ministry of Labour, the new employment standards regulations state that employers cannot ask for a sick note for a worker’s first two health-related, short-term absences of five consecutive days or fewer in a calendar year. The new changes also cover dependants of the employee, like children, who may need a parent to stay home to care for them.
The new changes were based on input from healthcare providers and will ease some of the strain on the provincial system, allowing more time for medical professionals to spend with patients. It will also reduce the administrative burden on the healthcare system.
“No one should have to choose between their health and their job,” said Josie Osborne, minister of Health. “These new rules ensure that when people are unwell, they can stay home to recover and help prevent the spread of illness without the added stress of getting a sick note. This change also reduces unnecessary administrative burdens for doctors and allows them to focus on what matters most: providing care to patients.”
According to information from the province, the Canadian Medical Association estimates that in 2024 B.C. doctors wrote approximately 1.6 million sick notes. The CMA along with Doctors of BC called for the elimination of sick-note requirements for employees taking a short-term absence from work due to illness or injury
The new regulations set a minimum standard and apply to all employees covered by the Employment Standards Act.
Information on the Employment Standards website says regulations will be established following engagement with stakeholders.
“Regulations will set out how many days is considered a short-term absence, and how often an employee may be absent before their employer can request a formal sick note,” they stated.
While the initial thrust of the regulations will deal with notes from doctors and nurse practitioners, the regulations may also consider notes from other health professionals, they go on to say.
